College Research Paper Resources
A Student’s Guide to Hidden Internet Resources, Databases & More

As helpful as standard search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing are, they unfortunately struggle to dredge up the academic resources needed by college students. Academic journals, digitized archives and databases definitely exist online, but their location on the “invisible” or “deep web” make it hard for traditional search engines to find them. Don’t be discouraged by these intimidating names. In addition to making up the vast majority of the internet, the invisible web offers great tools for college students who know how to search it.

Meet the Writer

Jana Cary-Alvarez

Jana was educated in the Pacific Northwest and recently replanted in the Sonoran Desert. Her hobbies include birding, aquarium-keeping, drawing, and of course writing. In addition to her work for ACO, Jana is also a communications assistant for the deaf and hard of hearing. In the past she worked as a college writing advisor and remains passionate about information literacy.

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The Invisible Web & College Research

The invisible web holds innumerable resources that lie beyond the reach of common search engines. But before diving into the invisible web, it’s important to learn what exactly it is and how to use it. Below are some handy definitions and distinctions that will help make searching the invisible web easier and safer.

Surface Web

The internet most people use daily and what search engines are able to index.

Invisible Web

The majority of the internet. Pages within the invisible web can’t be indexed by search engines for various reasons, including because they aren’t linked to by any other page or they’re behind a paywall. The invisible web is also called the “deep web”

Dark Web

A small section of the invisible web that is anonymous and often the location of illegal activities. It’s sometimes called “Tor networks” and “onion pages”.

Why should students use the invisible web in college?

Can reduce the number of non-academic results

Finds resources that major engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo miss

Includes academic journal articles, which major search engines generally exclude

How to Use the Invisible Web for College Research

Students accustomed to using Google and other surface web search engines may not know how to safely access the invisible web. Finding invisible web resources without a starting place can be difficult, so continue reading to learn tips and guidance for reaching and using the invisible web for college research.

How to find the invisible web

Although search engines such as Google don’t pull invisible web entries into their search results, they can be used to find entrances to the invisible web. For example, if a website requires a user to register before accessing its database or archives, those archives will likely not appear in a Google search result. However, the website’s main page might.

Students can also find the invisible web by using resource lists published by their university library, listed in textbooks and even suggested by professors.

How to browse safely

The basic internet safety rules used on the surface web also apply in the invisible web. Use good judgment when downloading items and when registering for websites. See the FBI’s Simple Steps for Internet Safety for more information on the standard safeguards for using the internet (surface and invisible alike).

Avoid the dark web. Illegal activity frequently occurs on the dark web and government agencies try to monitor its content and those who access it. Do not use Tor networks or visit websites that require you to hide your IP address.

Remember that academic journal articles often cost money to access. Services like Sci-Hub and Library Genesis that promise free access to ebooks and articles from a variety of academic journals are considered illegal in the United States.

Stay focused. Following unrelated but interesting links and advertisements can lead into a rabbit hole of non-academic sources, unwanted lewd content and even viruses.

Invisible web search tips for college students

Use the right keywords.

Don’t use complete phrases or sentences when researching; instead focus on nouns.

Use search modifiers and operators.

These tools can help refine results in databases, academic journal searches and most other places with a search bar. Google provides a rundown of some basic Boolean language it uses that may also be applied to databases and other search engines on the surface or invisible web.

How to Evaluate a Resource for Academic Research

Finding resources is only the first stage of academic research. In order for college students to know how reliable and trustworthy a resource is, they must evaluate their findings before using them. Below are some questions to ask before using a resource.

Who wrote or produced the resource?

Academics and individuals with relevant degrees will know more about the topic and have more authority in the field than others.

Where was the resource published?

Colleges and universities produce academic research, so websites that end with “.edu” are often more reliable than “.com” sources. Government sources (which have websites ending in “.gov”) are also typically considered trustworthy. Use articles published in academic journals instead of those published in newspapers, magazines and similar popular outlets unless the research topic requires otherwise.

If the resource is an article from a journal, was it peer-reviewed?

Peer-reviewing is the process by which experts in a field review each other’s work before it is published. Typically, college students are encouraged to use only articles which have been peer-reviewed.

When was the resource published?

Depending on the topic being researched, something published even just a few years ago may be considered outdated.

Who was the resource written or produced for?

An article intended for individuals outside of the field or for children will be more general and less nuanced than an article written for fellow experts.

How academic does the resource appear?

Look for resources that reference and cite other pieces of research. Additionally, students should be wary of sources that use overly casual language.

Bonus Step:

When in doubt, reach out. When an article is indispensable for a student’s research or project but does not pass the majority of the above tests, students should ask their professors, course teaching assistants and reference librarians for guidance.

Other Research Resources

Although 21st century college students conduct a significant portion of their research using the invisible web, traditional methods shouldn’t be ignored. Libraries, librarians, note taking and physical books remain vital and powerful components of a student’s toolkit.

Below are some of these visible web and physical world resources that students can benefit from.

Advanced Search

Although it still uses the surface web, advanced searches on popular search engines can help users significantly narrow down their results and find websites more specific to their needs. Google and Yahoo both have advanced searches available.

Google Books sits in the grey area between the surface and invisible web. Regardless of where it belongs, however, Google Books can be an excellent resource for students. Google Books is an index of over 30 million books. While a significant amount of them only allow users to view a smattering of pages, students can still use Google Books to find titles and determine if they will be useful enough to request from a library.

InterLibrary Loan (ILLiad)

Over 16,000 libraries in 120 different countries participate in the Online Computer Library Center which hosts a variety of programs centered on sharing resources between member institutions. Students can especially benefit from ILLiad, the system through which participating libraries can loan each other materials for their patrons. If a local library does not have a resource, librarians may be able to help students get it through ILLiad. Some libraries also participate in regional loan programs which can help students get materials more quickly.

OneNote is available free for both Mac and PC; students can use this program to save and organize screenshots of research and to take notes.

Reference Librarians

Reference librarians are individuals employed by a university or library who specialize in information literacy. This means they know a wide variety of resources available–digital and physical–and how to access them. Reference librarians at colleges and universities may specialize in certain academic fields and can offer one-on-one assistance.